ABSTRACT
Social phobia is a common and enduring anxiety disorder in which imagery plays a prominent role. People with social phobia are afraid they will come across as inadequate to other people and consequently avoid social and performance situations, such as chatting to a colleague on a coffee break, speaking up in a meeting or giving a presentation in class. They worry they will show signs of anxiety, such as blushing, sweating, or trembling, or that they will do something that will cause others to think less of them, such as saying something silly or boring. They typically have images of their fears unfolding while in these situations and are convinced that others will see them as they appear in their images, leading to negative evaluation, criticism, or rejection. Yet they rarely receive criticism in social situations. This point has puzzled clinicians and researchers who have sought to understand why social anxiety persists in the absence of negative feedback from others.
